Bastogne Artillerymen Fall Back on Traditional Role
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Multi-National Division - North www.1ad.army.mil Volume 2 Issue 08 Page 1 oct. 22, 2008 Bastogne artillerymen fall back on traditional role Story and Photos By Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Doheny 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division PAO ver the course of seven years Oduring the Vietnam War, the 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment earned the nickname, "Balls of the Eagle," where they earned 15 campaign streamers, two Valorous Unit Awards and a Presidential Unit Citation. During those rain-filled, muggy days in the jungles of Vietnam, an artillery Soldier was primarily focused on providing timely, lethal fires in support of ground forces. The role of the traditional artilleryman A ‘gun team’ from Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, brace for the concussion as they in Afghanistan and Iraq has evolved in fire a 105mm howitzer during Operation Balls Jackson I Oct. 9. The artillery Soldiers role in the operation was to set recent years though, and so too has the up and fire an artillery barrage in order to deny enemy extraction routes for an air assault operation artillery Soldier. Today he finds himself conducting jumped off the back of the Chinook “The artillery support during the counter-insurgency operations. This helicopters and began preparing their operation gave us the ability to block change in mission has often taken him firing positions, just as their Vietnam-era the enemy extraction routes during the away from what he knows best…putting brethren did more than 40 years ago. assault, keeping the enemy isolated on ‘steel on target.’ “The Vietnam War saw the first major the objective,” said Rodriguez. “It gave Falling back on the traditional role use of helicopters for transportation and us battlefield supremacy.” as cannon crewmembers, Soldiers from aerial fire support, changing the artillery According to the Maj. Timothy Alpha Battery conducted an artillery from a static role to giving it the mobility Frambes, 2-320th executive officer, raid Oct. 9, in support of an assault needed in any terrain or battlefield, the location in the Jazeera Desert has force during Operation Balls Jackson I, said Capt. Adalberto Rodriguez, Alpha become an al Qaeda in Iraq support an air assault operation in the Jazeera Battery commander. zone, where they have sought safe Desert. Rodriguez said the artillery raid haven from Coalition force operations. Two 105mm Howitzers were lifted provides the element of surprise, He said due to his battalion’s efforts with via CH-47 Chinook helicopters to an while demoralizing and confusing the increasing the security in the population isolated, predetermined landing zone. enemy troops, giving them no time for centers in the area, the enemy has The combat-loaded, air assault Soldiers reaction. Bastogne Continued on Page 3 Page 2 oct. 22, 2008 U.S. Army South Chaplain rallies Salvadoran religious leaders organizations during such crises. Boelens underscored that any Story and photos by "Religious institutions are an often dialogue between the military and Sgt. 1st Class Dave Thompson forgotten demographic with a quietly faith-based institutions must honor the U.S. Army South PAO significant strategic strength," said separate and independent character Boelens. of each religious organization. "When "They are uniquely postured to issues of mutual concern arise, l Salvador- Laughter erupted assist in times of crises as they are not however, we need to know how to throughout a hotel conference E encumbered by many of the restrictions interact with each other in order to room near Comalapa Air Base, El binding nation-states. They have a provide humanitarian care." Salvador as U.S. and Salvadoran Army significant capacity that should be Following a disaster Boelens officials, meeting with local religious integrated into the planning process in indicated that access to basic health leaders for a conference, enjoyed a providing humanitarian assistance and care, clean water, proper nutrition, light moment. disaster relief." and adequate shelter are subjects that The laughter was at the expense of the conference coordinator, U.S. Army South Command Chaplain (Col.) James Boelens, whose ambitious attempt at the Spanish language was flavored with an appreciable dose of self- deprecating humor. With a gentle demeanor and a smile big enough to match his six-foot-seven stature, Boelens' reverent approach lent a quiet calm to the edgy business of defending a nation. He, along with some 7,000 participants from 20 nations, was taking part in PANAMAX 2008, an annual multinational exercise sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and hosted this year by El Salvador, Honduras and Panama. The scenario centered around defending the Panama Canal and locations in Honduras from a terrorist group, as well as responding to a Col.) James Boelens gives a group of Salvadoran religious leaders a tour of the PANAMAX 2008 exercise site. Boelens devastating hurricane in Honduras. discussed an initiative that outlined faith leader's responsibilities during natural disasters at a two-hour conference. Photo by Boelens' initiative focused on the By Sgt 1st Class Dave Thompson, U.S. Army South Public Affairs Office responsibilities of faith-based Salvador Continued on Page 3 Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling Contributing Writers: Sgt.1st Class Kevin Doheny Sgt. 1st Class Dave Public Affairs Officer: Maj. Margaret Kageleiry Thompson Public Affairs NCOIC: Master Sgt. Nancy Morrison Layout and Design: Spc. Ryan Elliott, 14th PAD Editor: Staff Sgt. Mark Albright, 14th Public Affairs Detachment Contact the Iron Strong at VOIP: 242-1190, DSN: 318-849-0089 or email [email protected] The “Iron Strong” is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the “Iron Strong” are not necessarily official veiws of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the Task Force Iron. All editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Iron Public Affairs Office. Page 3 oct. 22, 2008 “In combat there are no second Bastogne from Page 1 “The artillery support was the key of chances or re-dos if a timeline is missed success of the operation,” he said. sought refuge in the desert, and the or a critical step is skipped,” said air assault operation allowed Alpha Frambes. “Real Battery the element of surprise. bullets are shot by “The enemy loses his advantage real bad guys who when we arrive by air to root him out of intend to do real his hiding places,” said Frambes. “The harm. While we can demonstrated lethality, accuracy, and maintain our task speed of an air assault, combined with proficiencies by artillery fires, completely evaporates training in combat, the pool of support formerly given to we must be efficient them.” and execute the Not every artillery unit in the Army call for fire and fire- performs these types of operations; mission processing however, artillery units in the 101st precisely in order Airborne Division pride themselves to remain safe and on them. accurate when Numerous training hours are devoted ‘under the gun’ in on perfecting each and every individual combat.” task associated with such a highly- Rodriguez said that complex operation. Gun teams must this operation was be precise, fires must be coordinated a success because Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, run and the air assault force must be swift of the precision of out of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Operation Balls Jackson I Oct. 9. and agile because lives are in jeopardy fires from his gun if one element is not on target. teams. multinational collaborative partnership to Salvador from Page 2 respond to natural disasters. "During such times of disasters, we take help from anyone who is willing to give it," require collaboration. said Palona. "In hurricanes past, the first "Religious institutions represent responder was Southern Command who the people and it doesn't matter what provided helicopters and humanitarian faith you belong to; during times of aid. We always listen to what they have crises we're all in the same boat," to say in these matters." said Boelens. "We can all benefit from The initiative was received with great each other's help. As denominational enthusiasm as one by one, the religious leaders, we have a responsibility to leaders expressed thanks, offered advice discuss means and ways to improve and pledged their willingness to do their conditions in our communities." part. During the conference, Boelens and "Many times [in the aftermath of Col. Ricardo Palona, Salvadoran Army a disaster] it's not simply a physical Chief of Civil and Military Affairs, gave catastrophe, it's also a spiritual condition," an overview of humanitarian assistance said Boelens. and disaster relief programs and outlined "We are here to provide spiritual the challenges and limitations of alerting assistance. Years ago when your country citizens during crises. They recognized was ravaged by war, we were there for the vast influence that religious leaders you. Now, you are there for us. That's have in impacting their communities what a partnership is all about-all of us and highlighted the value of faith-based caring for each other during times of organizations joining together to form a need." Page 4 Homefront News oct. 22, 2008 ELECTIONS the US goes through its worst financial crisis in "wants to cut taxes for the same people who decades. have already been making out like bandits, in some cases literally" US presidential candidates John "Raising taxes on some in order to give "John cCain is so out of touch with the McCain and Barack Obama traded sharp words cheques to others is not a tax cut, it's just another struggles you are facing that he must be the first about their tax plans as they campaigned in key government giveaway," he said in a paid radio politician in history to call a tax cut for working conservative states.